Even if I wanted to, I could not ignore all the emails in my mailbox suggesting how I should start my new year. They really bug me, and I’ll tell you why.

All of these emails include New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions arise from shallow goals that people aren’t setting personally from their hearts, but let society set for them.

We let society tell us how we should live our lives, what we should look like, what we should wear, who we should date. And if we don’t follow along, we feel there’s something wrong with us, we feel left out, we feel we fall behind.

However, if you’re someone who wants to make New Year’s resolutions and you feel determined, just do it. I’m only hoping you will make promises to yourself that are coming from your own heart and that you will set realistic, attainable goals. Besides that, make sure you have a clear plan. You can’t just say you want to lose weight or make more money this year. You have to understand why this goal is important to you, and you must have a detailed plan that’s gradual, convenient, and realistic. Otherwise, you’re only setting yourself up to fail.

When you don’t plan this change well and you fail, you’re doing more damage to yourself, ensuring your belief system will tell you you’re not capable of achieving that specific goal. You most likely also will lower your expectations and your self worth nosedives. This happens to you unconsciously. You just shrug your shoulders not taking the failure too seriously, but the new part of your belief system is already deeply rooted in your mind. “Why try again? I already tried and I failed.” Can you hear the echo of your feelings from past New Year’s resolutions or failures?

I know many people who don’t make New Year’s resolutions exactly for this reason. They tried, they failed, and they now believe they always will. Resolutions can work; you just need a smart plan.

Don’t be hard on yourself if you’re someone who experienced resolution failure. We’ve all been there. Just so you know there’s nothing wrong with you, you just didn’t have the right plan, you didn’t take the right action steps. The only thing that you can do is learn from the experience and change your direction or action.

If you don’t know where to start, read a book, search online. There’s so much free information out there. You don’t necessarily need to spend money to learn to plan and achieve a goal, but you do have to invest time. If it’s the plan is too much for you to handle and you can afford it, hire a professional who will help you to make this plan, who can help you to achieve your goal, someone who will be there for you to guide you on your journey. You can also look into self-help groups that are more affordable and will give you the information you need or, at least, get you started.

There’s one more thing that’s crucial to meet that goal, which is it must come from your heart, soul, or if you like, call it your core. When you have the right intentions and you take steps that align with those intentions, trust me, no one and nothing can stop you in achieving your goals.

But how do you know if it’s coming from your heart? After all, so many of us have forgotten how to listen to our hearts. Our logic, our heads are talking so loud we can’t hear the soft whispers of our hearts.

The general rule is that what comes from your heart makes you feel amazing, not just for a moment but in the long term. It fills you up with love; it feels light and blissful. When you do something that is your heart’s calling, it will elevate your spirit. When you do things from your heart not from logic, your life feels as if it flows. You don’t need to control it; it just flows with every action you take.

Are you up for doing an exercise? It will help you to discover yourself and understand yourself a little more.
When you reflect on the past year, there are many things you could exam:
*How did you do financially?
*What are the general feelings about your love life/friends/relationships?
*How is your health? Did you take care of yourself?
*How much fun you have? Did you rest enough?
*Look at those questions and analyze your answers.
What are your weak spots, and what are your sweet spots?

Notice and be grateful for all the good things of the past year.
Is there ONE thing that if you changed now would DRAMATICALLY change your life?

Just to give you an example: Last year I had an awful work/fun/rest balance. I did not respect my needs and my feelings, and it took a toll on me. I recognized that and gradually changed it.
I can’t tell you how amazing I started to feel after I made the necessary changes. My whole life changed. I could be more myself than ever. It was a huge deal for me!

Do you have something similar?

After you answered the questions above, I have one more thing to ask you. If you reflect on last year through your heart, what do you see?

To help you again with an example:

I learned that when I followed my heart, it started speaking louder. When I followed my intuition, it got stronger and stronger. When I was more myself, I felt better and happier than ever. When I learned to fully accept and love myself, I met more people who did the same. When I’m myself, I can light up the world around me; I feel amazing, and I can make people feel amazing. When I am more myself, I’m at peace. I meet challenges easier; I feel my faith getting stronger. I have more miracles in my life. I experience moments of bliss and unconditional love for no particular reason. I can be grateful for all the pain and for all the good that comes into my life, and I welcome all of it with open arms. I deal with challenges on a different level and always learn from them. When I am myself, I have more hope. I feel my life is blooming.

What do you see when you see your past year through your heart? Did you follow your heart? Do you think it’s even possible? Are you so deeply attached to your logical mind that what I told you sounds unbelievable? What do you feel when you think of last year?

I have not always felt this way. I had to break through many thick walls to get here. I had to do a lot work and grew so much last year. Also, I know there’s a lot more work to do, and the work won’t stop until the end of my life.

At times, the work is uncomfortable; change is uncomfortable. I broke through old habits. I started to make conscious decisions and learned to be more aware of how I operate on a daily basis. I question my motivation. I ask myself what my intention is and whether my actions align with the goal. I had to understand my feelings to see where I am in my life and how I can move in the direction I desire.

This takes time and lots of patience, practice, and awareness, but the outcome is so rewarding. It’s feeling blissful, feeling happy, feeling free in my heart!

So, after reading all this, what are your New Year’s resolutions now? How would you like to spend another year, another moment in your life? How would you like to feel and how can you get there?

These are really powerful questions. This is about your life. Every decision you make and every action you take matters.

I’m not here to tell you what you should do this year, but here’s what I wish for you:

Put less pressure on yourself and have more patience. Be more forgiving.

Move your body with joy and love.

Eat the foods that makes you healthy and feel strong.

Be more yourself and hear what your heart desires and act on it.

Love/accept yourself the way you are, still never giving up striving for the best version of you.

Forgive yourself for making mistakes and for being human because we’re all here to learn.

Surround yourself with people who love you just the way you are and lift you up in the same time.

Show compassion; be a good listener; understand and forgive others.

Be honest about your feelings

Stay gracious every moment of your life.

Receive love and miracles and may all your dreams come true.

See yourself through the Divine’s/God’s eye! See all the greatness within you!

If you’re one of my clients who’s reading this, my question to you is:

How can I be there for you more during this new year? How can I help you achieve your goals? How can I support you better?

If you’re not one of my clients, I’m here for you to guide you when you’re in need!

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”
― William Arthur Ward